Syrian actress Mai Sakkaf was arrested by Syrian riot police for taking part in protests against the current Syrian government of President Bashar Al Asad, which took place in the heart of the Syrian capital Damascus. Hundreds of Syrian scholars and artists had joined protesters calling for the resignation of Bashar Al Asad and his cabinet.

It was revealed that Mai and artist Nidal Hasan were arrested along with a large number of demonstrators.

Among the demands that the protesters called for is prosecuting everyone responsible for committing brutal crimes against protesters and the Syrian people. In addition, protesters demanded that Arab and international media be allowed to freely cover events taking place in Syrian, in order to show the reality of the situation and not the propaganda written and portrayed by government run media.

Protesters also demanded that an immediate stop be put to the brutality imposed by security officials that went as far as massacring people by the dozens, and allow them to freely express themselves. In addition, people in the streets called for the release of all political captives that were imprisoned for their political views.

Mai had criticized the wide spread of Bashar Al Asad’s photos in public and private institutions and stated that it did not indicate love and respect for the president, but rather fear of the consequences of not having his picture hung on every street corner.

Mai stated that how can the government talk of political stability when protesters are arrested and beat for expressing their views, which is one of the basic rights of human rights.